Iphigenia in Tauris, By Euripides

To the oars that dash the main In just cadence well agreed, Shall accord his wax-join'd reed: Phoebus, with a prophet's fire Sweeping o'er his seven-string'd lyre, And his voice attuning high To the swelling harmony, Thee shall guide the wild waves o'er To the soft Athenian shore. Leaving me, thy oars shall sweep Eager o'er the foaming deep: Thou shalt catch the rising gales Swelling in thy firm-bound sails; And thy bark in gallant pride Light shall o'er the billows glide. (antistrophe 2) Might I through the lucid air Fly where rolls yon flaming car, O'er those loved and modest bowers, Where I pass'd my youthful hours, I would stay my weary flight, Wave no more my pennons light, But, amid the virgin band, Once my loved companions, stand: Once mid them my charms could move, Blooming then, the flames of love; When the mazy dance I trod, While with joy my mother glow'd; When to vie in grace was mine, And in splendid robes to shine; For, with radiant tints impress'd, Glow'd for me the gorgeous vest; And these tresses gave new grace, As their ringlets shade my face. (THOAS and his retinue enter.) THOAS Where is the Grecian lady, to whose charge This temple is committed? Have her rites Hallow'd the strangers? Do their bodies burn In the recesses of the sacred shrine? LEADER OF THE CHORUS She comes, and will inform thee, king, of all. (IPHIGENIA comes out of the temple. She is carrying the sacred statue

(IPHIGENIA comes out of the temple. She is carrying the sacred statue of Diana.) THOAS Daughter of Agamemnon, what means this? The statue of the goddess in thine arms Why dost thou bear, from its firm base removed? IPHIGENIA There in the portal, monarch, stay thy step. THOAS What of strange import in the shrine hath chanced? IPHIGENIA Things ominous: that word I, holy, speak. THOAS To what is tuned thy proem? Plainly speak. IPHIGENIA Not pure the victims, king, you lately seized. THOAS What showd thee this? Or speak'st thou but thy thought? IPHIGENIA Back turn'd the sacred image on its base. THOAS Spontaneous turn'd, or by an earthquake moved? IPHIGENIA Spontaneous, and, averted, closed its eyes. THOAS What was the cause? The blood-stain'd stranger's guilt? IPHIGENIA That, and naught else; for horrible their deeds. THOAS What, have they slain some Scythian on the shore? IPHIGENIA They came polluted with domestic blood. THOAS What blood? I have a strong desire to know. IPHIGENIA They slew their mother with confederate swords. THOAS O Phoebus! This hath no barbarian dared. IPHIGENIA All Greece indignant chased them from her realms. THOAS Bear'st thou for this the image from the shrine? IPHIGENIA To the pure air, from stain of blood removed. THOAS By what means didst thou know the stranger's guilt? IPHIGENIA I learn'd it as the statue started back. THOAS Greece train'd thee wise: this well hast thou discern'd.

THOAS Greece train'd thee wise: this well hast thou discern'd. IPHIGENIA Now with sweet blandishments they soothe my soul. THOAS Some glozing tale from Argos telling thee? IPHIGENIA I have one brother: he, they say, lives happy,- THOAS That thou mayst save them for their pleasing news? IPHIGENIA And that my father lives, by fortune bless'd. THOAS But on the goddess well thy thoughts are turn'd. IPHIGENIA I hate all Greece; for it hath ruin'd me. THOAS What with the strangers, say then, should be done? IPHIGENIA The law ordain'd in reverence we must hold. THOAS Are then thy lavers ready, and the sword? IPHIGENIA First I would cleanse them with ablutions pure. THOAS In fountain waters, or the ocean wave? IPHIGENIA All man's pollutions doth the salt sea cleanse. THOAS More holy to the goddess will they bleed. IPHIGENIA And better what I have in charge advance. THOAS Doth not the wave ev'n 'gainst the temple beat? IPHIGENIA This requires solitude: more must I do. THOAS Lead where thou wilt: on secret rite I pry not. IPHIGENIA The image of the goddess I must cleanse. THOAS If it be stain'd with touch of mother's blood. IPHIGENIA I could not else have borne it from its base. THOAS Just is thy provident and pious thought; For this by all the state thou art revered. IPHIGENIA Know'st thou what next I would? THOAS 'Tis thine thy will To signify. IPHIGENIA Give for these strangers chains.

IPHIGENIA Give for these strangers chains. THOAS To what place can they fly? IPHIGENIA A Grecian knows Naught faithful. THOAS Of my train go some for chains. (Some attendants go out.) IPHIGENIA Let them lead forth the strangers. THOAS Be it so, IPHIGENIA And veil their faces. THOAS From the sun's bright beams? IPHIGENIA Some of thy train send with me. THOAS These shall go, Attending thee. IPHIGENIA One to the city send. THOAS With what instructions charged? IPHIGENIA That all remain Within their houses. THOAS That the stain of blood They meet not? IPHIGENIA These things have pollution in them. THOAS Go thou, and bear the instructions. (An attendant departs.) IPHIGENIA That none come In sight, THOAS How wisely careful for the city! IPHIGENIA Warn our friends most. THOAS This speaks thy care for me. IPHIGENIA Stay thou before the shrine. THOAS To what intent? IPHIGENIA Cleanse it with lustral fires. THOAS That thy return May find it pure? IPHIGENIA But when the strangers come Forth from the temple,- THOAS What must I then do? IPHIGENIA Spread o'er thine eyes a veil. THOAS That I receive not Pollution? IPHIGENIA Tedious if my stay appear,- THOAS What bounds may be assign'd? IPHIGENIA Deem it not strange. THOAS At leisure what the rites require perform. IPHIGENIA May this lustration as I wish succeed! THOAS Thy wish is mine. (ORESTES and PYLADES, bound, are led from the temple in solemn procession by the guards. THOAS and his retinue

the temple in solemn procession by the guards. THOAS and his retinue veil their heads as it slowly moves past.) IPHIGENIA (chanting) But from the temple, see, The strangers come, the sacred ornaments, The hallow'd lambs-for I with blood must wash This execrable blood away,-the light Of torches, and what else my rites require To purify these strangers to the goddess. But to the natives of this land my voice Proclaims, from this pollution far remove, Art thou attendant at the shrine, who liftest Pure to the gods thy hands, or nuptial rites Dost thou prepare, or pregnant matron; hence, Begone, that this defilement none may touch. Thou, daughter of Latona and high Jove, O royal virgin, if I cleanse the stain Of these, and where I ought with holy rites Address thee, thou shalt hold thy residence In a pure mansion; we too shall be bless'd. More though I speak not, goddess, unexpress'd, All things to thee and to the gods are known. (IPHIGENIA, carrying the statue, joins the procession as is goes out. THOAS and his retinue enter the temple.) CHORUS (singing, strophe) Latona's glorious offspring claims the song, Born the hallow'd shades among, Where fruitful Delos winds her valleys low; Bright-hair'd Phoebus, skill'd to inspire Raptures, as he sweeps the lyre, And she that glories in the unerring bow. From the rocky ridges steep, At whose feet the hush'd waves sleep, Left their far-famed native shore,

Left their far-famed native shore, Them the exulting mother bore To Parnassus, on whose heights Bacchus shouting holds his rites; Glittering in the burnish'd shade, By the laurel's branches made, Where the enormous dragon lies, Brass his scales, and flame his eyes, Earth-born monster, that around Rolling guards the oracular ground; Him, while yet a sportive child, In his mother's arms that smiled, Phoebus slew, and seized the shrine Whence proceeds the voice divine: On the golden tripod placed, Throne by falsehood ne'er disgraced, Where Castalia's pure stream flows, He the fates to mortal shows. (antistrophe) But when Themis, whom of yore Earth, her fruitful mother, bore, From her hallow'd seat he drove, Earth to avenge her daughter strove, Forming visions of the night, Which, in rapt dreams hovering light, All that Time's dark volumes hold Might to mortal sense unfold, When in midnight's sable shades Sleep the silent couch invades: Thus did Earth her vengeance boast. His prophetic honours lost, Royal Phoebus speeds his flight To Olympus, on whose height At the throne of Jove he stands, Stretching forth his little hands, Suppliant that the Pythian shrine Feel no more the wrath divine; That the goddess he appease; That her nightly visions cease. Jove with smiles beheld his son Early thus address his throne, Suing with ambitious pride O'er the rich shrine to preside; He, assenting, bow'd his head.

He, assenting, bow'd his head. Straight the nightly visions fled; And prophetic dreams no more Hover'd slumbering mortals o'er: Now to Phoebus given again, All his honours pure remain; Votaries distant regions send His frequented throne to attend: And the firm decrees of fate On his faithful voice await. (A MESSENGER enters.) MESSENGER Say you, that keep the temple, and attend The altar, where is Thoas, Scythia's king? Open these strong-compacted gates, and cal Forth from the shrine the monarch of the land. LEADER OF THE CHORUS Wherefore? at thy command if I must speak. MESSENGER The two young men are gone, through the device Of Agamemnon's daughter: from this land They fly; and, in their Grecian galley placed, The sacred image of the goddess bear. LEADER Incredible thy tale: but whom thou seek'st, The monarch, from the temple went in haste. MESSENGER Whither? for what is doing he should know. LEADER We know not: but go thou, and seek for him: Where'er thou find him, thou wilt tell him this. MESSENGER See, what a faithless race you women are! In all that hath been done you have a part. LEADER Sure thou art mad! what with the strangers' flight Have we to do? But wilt thou not, with all The speed thou mayst, go to the monarch's house? MESSENGER Not till I first am well inform'd, if here Within the temple be the king, or not. (Shouting) Unbar the gates (to you within I speak); And tell your lord that at the portal here

And tell your lord that at the portal here I stand, and bring him tidings of fresh ills. (THOAS and his attendants enter from the temple.) THOAS Who at the temple of the goddess dares This clamour raise, and, thundering at the gates, Strikes terror through the ample space within? MESSENGER With falsehoods would these women drive me hence, Without to seek thee: thou wast in the shrine. THOAS With what intent? or what advantage sought? MESSENGER Of these hereafter; what more urgent now Imports thee, hear: the virgin, in this place Presiding at the altars, from this land Is with the strangers fled, and bears with her The sacred image of the goddess; all Of her ablutions but a false pretence. THOAS How say'st thou? What is her accursed design? MESSENGER To save Orestes: this too will amaze thee. THOAS Whom? What Orestes? Clytemnestra's son? MESSENGER Him at the altar hallow'd now to bleed. THOAS Portentous! for what less can it be call'd? MESSENGER Think not on that, but hear me; with deep thought Reflect: weigh well what thou shalt hear; devise By what pursuit to reach and seize the strangers. THOAS Speak: thou advisest well: the sea though nigh, They fly not so as to escape my spear. MESSENGER When to the shore we came, where station'd rode The galley of Orestes, by the rocks Conceal'd to us, whom thou hadst sent with her To hold the strangers' chains, the royal maid Made signs that we retire, and stand aloof,

Made signs that we retire, and stand aloof, As if with secret rites she would perform The purposed expiation: on she went, In her own hands holding the strangers' chains Behind them: not without suspicion-this, Yet by thy servants, king, allow'd. At length, That we might deem her in some purpose high Employ'd, she raised her voice, and chanted loud Barbaric strains, as if with mystic rites She cleansed the stain of blood. When we had sat A tedious while, it came into our thought, That from their chains unloosed, the stranger youths Might kill her, and escape by flight: yet fear Of seeing what we ought not, kept us still In silence; but at length we all resolved To go, though not permitted, where they were. There we behold the Grecian bark with oars Well furnish'd, wing'd for flight; and at their seats, Grasping their oars, were fifty rowers; free From chains beside the stern the two youths stood Some from the prow relieved the keel with poles; Some weigh'd the anchors up; the climbing ropes Some hasten'd, through their hands the cables drew, Launch'd the light bark, and gave her to the main. But when we saw their treacherous wiles, we rush'd Heedless of danger, seized the priestess, seized The halsers, hung upon the helm, and strove To rend the rudder-bands away. Debate Now rose:-"What mean you, sailing o'er the seas, The statue and the priestess from the land By stealth conveying? Whence art thou, and who,

By stealth conveying? Whence art thou, and who, That bear'st her, like a purchased slave, away?" He said, "I am her brother; be of this Inform'd; Orestes, son of Agamemnon: My sister, so long lost, I bear away, Recover'd here." But naught the less for that Held we the priestess, and by force would lead Again to thee: hence dreadful on our cheeks The blows; for in their hands no sword they held, Nor we; but many a rattling stroke the youths Dealt witb their fists, against our sides and breasts Their arms fierce darting, till our batter'd limbs Were all disabled: now with dreadful marks Disfigured, up the precipice we fly, Some bearing on their heads, some in their eyes The bloody bruises: standing on the heights, Our fight was safer, and we hurl'd at them Fragments of rocks; but, standing on the stern, The archers with their arrows drove us thence; And now a swelling wave roll'd in, which drove The galley towards the land. The sailors fear'd The sudden swell: on his left arm sustain'd, Orestes bore his sister through the tide, Mounted the bark's tall side, and on the deck Safe placed her, and Diana's holy image, Which fell from heaven; from the midship his voice He sent aloud:-"Ye youths, that in this bark From Argos plough'd the deep, now ply your oars, And dash the billows till they foam: those things Are ours, for which we swept the Euxine sea. And steer'd our course within its clashing rocks."

And steer'd our course within its clashing rocks." They gave a cheerful shout, and with their oars Dash'd the salt wave. The galley, while it rode Within the harbour, work'd its easy way; But having pass'd its mouth, the swelling flood Roll'd on it, and with sudden force the wind Impetuous rising drove it back: their oars They slack'd not, stoutly struggling 'gainst the wave; But towards the land the refluent flood impell'd The galley: then the royal virgin stood, And pray'd:-"O daughter of Latona, save me, Thy priestess save; from this barbaric land To Greece restore me, and forgive my thefts: For thou, O goddess, dost thy brother love, Deem then that I love those allied to me." The mariners responsive to her prayer Shouted loud paeans, and their naked arms, Each cheering each, to their stout oars apply. But nearer and yet nearer to the rock The galley drove: some rush'd into the sea, Some strain'd the ropes that bind the loosen'd sails. Straight was I hither sent to thee, O king, To inform thee of these accidents. But haste, Take chains and gyves with thee: for if the flood side not to a calm, there is no hope Of safety to the strangers. Be assured, That Neptune, awful monarch of the main, Remembers Troy; and, hostile to the race Of Pelops, will deliver to thy hands, And to thy people, as is meet, the son Of Agamemnon; and bring back to the His sister, who the goddess hath betray'd,

His sister, who the goddess hath betray'd, Unmindful of the blood at Aulis shed. LEADER Unhappy Iphigenia, thou must die, Thy brother too must die, if thou again, Seized in thy flight, to thy lord's hands shalt come. THOAS Inhabitants of this barbaric land, Will you not rein your steeds, will you not fly Along the shore, to seize whate'er this skiff Of Greece casts forth; and, for your goddess roused, Hunt down these impious men? Will you not launch Instant your swift-oar'd barks, by sea, by land To catch them, from the rugged rock to hurl Their bodies, or impale them on the stake? But for you, women, in these dark designs Accomplices, hereafter, as I find Convenient leisure, I will punish you. The occasion urges now, and gives no pause. (MINERVA appears above.) MINERVA Whither, O royal Thoas, dost thou lead This vengeful chase? Attend: Minerva speaks. Cease thy pursuit, and stop this rushing flood Of arms; for hither, by the fateful voice Of Phoebus, came Orestes, warn'd to fly The anger of the Furies, to convey His sister to her native Argos back, And to my land the sacred image bear. Thoas, I speak to thee: him, whom thy rage Would kill, Orestes, on the wild waves seized, Neptune, to do me grace, already wafts On the smooth sea, the swelling surges calm'd. And thou, Orestes (for my voice thou hear'st, Though distant far), to my commands attend: Go, with the sacred image, which thou bear'st,

Go, with the sacred image, which thou bear'st, And with thy sister: but when thou shalt come To Athens built by gods, there is a place On the extreme borders of the Attic land, Close neighbouring to Carystia's craggy height, Sacred; my people call it Alae: there A temple raise, and fix the statue there, Which from the Tauric goddess shall receive Its name, and from thy toils, which thou, through Greece Driven by the Furies' maddening stings, hast borne; And mortals shall in future times with hymns The Tauric goddess there, Diana, hail. And be this law establish'd; when the feast For thy deliverance from this shrine is held, To a man's throat that they apply the sword, And draw the blood, in memory of these rites, That of her honours naught the goddess lose. Thou, Iphigenia, on the hallow'd heights Of Brauron on this goddess shalt attend Her priestess, dying shalt be there interr'd, Graced with the honours of the gorgeous vests Of finest texture, in their houses left By matrons who in childbed pangs expired. These Grecian dames back to their country lead, I charge thee; justice this return demands, For I saved thee, when on the mount of Mars The votes were equal; and from that decree The shells in number equal still absolve. But, son of Agamemnon, from this land Thy sister bear; nor, Thoas, be thou angry. THOAS Royal Minerva, he that hears the gods Commanding, and obeys not, is unwise.

My anger 'gainst Orestes flames no more, Gone though he be, and bears with him away The statue of the goddess, and his sister. Have mortals glory 'gainst the powerful gods Contending? Let them go, and to thy land The sacred image bear, and fix it there; Good fortune go with them. To favour Greece, These dames, at thy high bidding, I will send. My arms will I restrain, which I had raised Against the strangers, and my swift-oar'd barks, Since, potent goddess, this is pleasing to thee. MINERVA I praise thy resolution; for the power Of Fate o'er thee and o'er the gods prevails. Breathe soft, ye favouring gales, to Athens bear These sprung from Agamemnon; on their course Attending, I will go, and heedful save My sister's sacred image. You too go (to the CHORUS) Prosperous, and in the fate that guards you bless'd. (MINERVA vanishes.) CHORUS (chanting) O thou, among the immortal gods revered And mortal men, Minerva, we will do As thou commandest; for with transport high, Exceeding hope, our ears receive thy words. O Victory, I revere thy awful power: Guard thou my life, nor ever cease to crown me! THE END